Controlling Pet Population

Re: ‘A Vet in Battle,” Jan. 29.

Hugo Martin has captured the plight of city animal control and especially of “Dr. Dena [Mangiamele].” However, the long days and crushing workload are pervasive in this tragically understaffed department. Dr. Dena is typical of the dedicated, professional management team being put together by new General Manager Gary Olsen to revive and revise the downtrodden agency. But no matter how good their plans to modernize methods and lower the euthanasia rate, nothing can be implemented without employees and decent facilities.

Every caring person in this city can become part of an informal political action committee of animal lovers by contacting their council member and mayor and telling them you support efforts to fund and staff this department. We can also mandate enactment of measures that require owners to take greater responsibility for pets, including spaying and neutering. And we can join in formation of a nonprofit auxiliary foundation to fund such things as reserve officer and volunteer training programs, shelter renovation, wildlife education, humane investigation / enforcement and, especially, breeding control. We must control the numbers or we will never stop or even gain on the problems.

PHYLLIS M. DAUGHERTY

Los Angeles